This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS CAIRO 009179
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
PASS USTR FOR SAUMS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD, KIPR, ECON, EG, WTO
SUBJECT: HONG KONG MINISTERIAL: EGYPTIAN COMMENTS ON
BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY CONVENTION AND AFRICAN WTO ISSUES
REF: A. STATE 218115
B. STATE 211956
THIS MESSAGE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. NOT FOR INTERNET
DISTRIBUTION.
1. (SBU) Post delivered ref A points on TRIPS and the
Convention on Biological Diversity to Dr. Samiha Fawzy, First
Assistant to the Minister of Foreign Trade and Industry, and
separately to Walid El Nozahy, Head of the Ministry's WTO
Office (who had no formal response). During the meeting,
Fawzy contacted Egypt's WTO Mission in Geneva to ask about
the issue. She specifically asked about the reftel point
that Peter Mandelson may have indicated the EU's willingness
during the November 30 G90 meeting to begin negotiations on
biodiversity. Her counterpart in Geneva claimed that
Mandelson had not made such a statement. Nonetheless, Fawzy
promised to discuss the issue with her colleagues and provide
a response to us on Egypt's position should the EU raise it
at the Hong Kong Ministerial.
2. (SBU) Post also delivered ref B points on the USG's
general approach to the Hong Kong Ministerial meeting; Fawzy
was familiar with our goals for Hong Kong because of her
participation in Minister of Foreign Trade and Industry
Rachid's trade discussions last week in Washington. Fawzy
(who will be traveling to Hong Kong) reviewed reftel points
and said that the GOE understood the USG desire to keep
ambitions high, but be realistic about the outcome of the
Hong Kong round. She stated that Egypt, as current head of
the African Union, is heavily involved in the Doha Round
issues of importance to Africa. Fawzy shared with trade
officer three papers on Africa's position related to the Doha
round. These papers have been sent to NEA/ELA Desiree Baron,
EB/TPP/BTT/ANA Mikael Lurie, and USTR Ned Saums.
RICCIARDONE